Self-anchoring rivet



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May 29, 1923..

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Patented. May 29, '1923;

1 UNITED STATESl 1,457,008 PATENT oFFicE.

I REUBEN STANLEY SMITH, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO A. Ov. SMITH CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELF-ANCHORING RIVET.

Application mea october 2o, 1919. serial No. 331,994.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, REUBEN STANLEY SMTTH, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of Milwaukee, county of '5 Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-Anchoring Rivets; and I do declare that .the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription thereof, such as will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention per.-

tains to make and use the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto attached and forming part of'my specification for disclosure as to certain details of construction and operation.

My invention relates to rivets.

In its present form, the invention is embodied in a construction which will eHect the retention temporarily of the loose rivet when the latter is inserted in the holes in-the metal plates which it is used to unite, so as to insure the rivet being in position when the plates are presented to the riveting machine.

In Ythe manufacture of automobile and other vehicle frames, as well as other frames from metal plates, the side bars and cross and end bars, or other elements of the frame, after being formed and perforated in accordance with the design of the frame, are assembled in their several relative positions and clamped temporarily so that such elements may be riveted together at the proper points.Y

In present machine, shop practice, such riveting is eHected by power driven riveting machines, the rivets being inserted in the punched holes' by hand, prior to the riveting operation, and in order to prevent such rivets from falling out when the assembled and clamped' frame elements are carried to the riveting machine, the end or point of the rivet is slightly upset or spread initially by j a blow with a hammer in the hand ofa workman. The tendency of the rivets to fall out'of the holes in the frame elements. is due to the fact that some of such rivets, somewhat loosely heldy in the holes in the plates, are presented to the riveting machine, heads down. The practice-of thus inserting the rivets and securing them preliminarily in the holes in the-parts which they are to unite, is not always productive of the desired results, inasmuch as the frame in its various stages of completion is subjected to many jars and shocks, which are incident to its as-` sembling and movement in the riveting 0perations, and it frequently happens that rivets so temporarily held will fall out. In such exigencies, the riveting operation is interrupted until other rivets can be inserted in the place of the missing ones. This delay involves a loss in produc-tion. In the actual riveting operation, the head of the rivet rests upon the anvil of the machine, while the end or point of the rivet is completely upset or spread by a blow by the vertically l,

moving, power actuated hammer, to effect permanent union of the parts.

Again, it has been observed that rivets the Shanks of which are calculated t0 engage only with a driving fit the walls of the holes in' the plates which they are to unite, cannot be relied upon to remain in position upon being inserted, and that these rivets will sometimes work loose and fall out. This is due to various causes, among which is that v of the rotations and severe vibrations which occur in handling the frames. Moreover, the frictional engagement of the rivets With the holes in the plates is not always in the same degree, due to the varying diameters of the Shanks of the rivets, resulting from variations in the stock and an imperceptible wearing away of the dies used in forming such rivets.

The purpose of my invention is the production of a specially designed rivet, which when driven preliminarily into the holes in the plates, will be positively anchored or held in its position and displacement prevented, irrespective of the vibrations to which the frame may be subjected while being assembled and in transit to the riveting machine, or during the riveting operation. As a direct result of my invention, the former practice of initially upsetting or spreading y-the point of the rivet to prevent the latter from falling out is eliminated, and the presence of a rivet`\`n proper p'osition for action by the riveti g machine is always assured, with the consequentsaving of the time heretofore consumed in replacing theoccasionally missing rivets.

My present invention in its preferred form has been embodied in a rivet, the solid shankI of Which is provided with projections, ribs or burs', which extend. to a point, which,

vmeasured from the head of the rivet, lies at formed by the projections on-the shank ofV the rivet, acts most effectively to prevent retractive movement by the rivet in the handling of the frame, following the insertion of the rivet.

The present invention is one of the de-v velopments arising from my newly devised system of producing automobile frames by a series of related .and connected mechanical operations. In a previous application iiled January 21, 1918, Serial No. 212,934 and patented November 15, 1921, #1,397,020, I

have disclosed an assemblage of machines which have inter-related operations, whereby from metal sheets supplied at one end of the assemblage, contoured blanks to form-side bars and cross and end bars, and other structural elements, are punched, duly shaped, perforated, machined, assembled and riveted, in such succession that completed automobile frames are turned out by purely automa-tic operations, on a schedule providing for the delivery of a' definite number of finished frames per minute.

One feature of the said assemblage is the riveting department, in which is employed a number of automatic riveting machines, the operation of which is preceded by the action of rivet inserting devices, which serve the.

rivets to the frame in transit through the assemblage, and which insert the rivets in the rivet holes provided therefor in the several frame elements. These rivet inserting devices operate generally in the'manner disclosed in the above mentioned patent.

In the operation of the assemblage above referred to, it has been necessary to provide some means whereby the rivets, particularly those inserted from the under side of the frame and presented with points upward, will remain inltheir respective positions until actionby the riveting machines thereon has taken place, and my present invention has enabled Ine to achieve this very desirable result in a most expeditious and eective' manner.

Having disclosed in the foregoing, the nature and purposes of mypresent invention. I will now describe theJmanner in which the said invention is constructed and utilized, and shall conclude this specication with claims directed to the novel features of such invention.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figures 1, 3 and 5, are views in elevation showing some of the various forms in which myinvention may be embodied, these figures 'showing also the rivets, as passing through the metal plates which are toA be united, suchv plates being sectionedI on a line passing through the vertical cent-ral plane the point of the rivet having been upset land spread over the face of the contiguous plate, and the shank expanded to lill the rivet holes, to complete the union of the two plates.

In thedrawings, X and Y, designate two of the metal plates of an automobile frame, the said plates beingA shown in section upon a line intersecting the point-at which they are to beunited. The plates X and Y, are

lreferred to only for the purpose of illustrating conventionally the manner in which my invention. isv to be applied. In actual practice, tlie plates thus referred to will or may be the side-bar and a cross-bar, or other elements of the frame, which are to be united by a riveting operation.

Automobile lframes as now constructed,

are formed from sheet metal plates. Such plates as are used in the production of side bars, and end and cross bars, are flanged to impar-t the necessary rigidity. In some parts the parallel flanges are in such proximity that an inside riveting operation is rendered diflicult, by reason of the near approach of the flanges to each other, and the impracticability of operating a riveting hammer in the restricted space between the flanges. To overcome this diliicul-ty, the rivets have been inserted from within the channel of the flanged bar` with the end or point of the rivet extending outwardly, so as to be accessible by the hammer of the riveting mechanism. the head Aof the rivet being backed up by the anvil. which latter is inserted inthe channel of the bar.

In' .uniting the elements, of an automobile frame, I employ a rivet of novel construction. .Such novel rivet is comprised of a head A, and a solid shank B, as usual, and

may or may not have its end or point tapered as at C, also as usual in either formation;

but it has been found in practice, that theoperation of inserting rivetsby means of mechanical devices is facilitated lin cases where rivets withv a'tapering or pointed end extending beyond the enlargement are used.

' face of the shank of the rivet.

For the purpose of clearness of illustration, the drawings have been made to show the features somewhat magnified. But it will be understood that 'the invention in its preferred form embodied in a rivet the shank of which is provided with an enlargement, which measured from the head of the rivet, extends to a point the distance of which exceeds slightly the thickness of the plates to be united by such rivet, and thatl the diameter of the rivet. at such point will be made to exceed that of the hole in the plates. -The enlargement upon the shank of the rivet need not be exactly of the relative locations and dimensions shown,. but such enlargement may, in some instances,

commence at any suitable point within the Vcompass of the combined thickness of the plates to be riveted. In other words, the cylindrical portion of the shank of the rivet between the head thereof and the enlargement thereon, may be of a length which is less than the thickness of the plates through which the rivet is passed. While this latter construction is within the scope of my invention, and is suitable for some classes ot work, it has been found that the rivety formed in vthe manner shown in the drawings is preferable and best adapted for all classes of work, as will presently be described.

Adverting to the drawings, it will be observed that a clearance between the rivet and the Walls of the hole in the plates is provided in Figures 1,3 and 5. In practice, a clearance of approximately l/64 of an inch will be suiiicient for the purposes of my invention. The resistance offered by the enlargement on the shank of the rivet to the passing of the rivet into the hole in the plates, of the rivet inserting devices. ing, the portions of metal extruded from the shankof the rivet and constituting the said enlargement, will be compressed in a minute degree by the resistance exerted by the walls of the holes in the plates. At the same time. the walls of the holes in the plates will be indented or scoredby com-- pression of the material in' a slight but similar degree, this action being due to the counter-pressure exerted radially by the enis overcome by the'sup'erior force In such pas'slargement on the shank of the rivet. lVhen the enlargement on the shank of the rivet,

or -the forward end of such enlargement, has passed clear of the hole in the plates, the inherent resiliency of the` metal of which the rivet is formed, will assert itself,

and 'the enlargement, whatever may be its form, will be found to have so expanded that the rivet will bel securely held against displacement by the vibrations incident to the subsequent handling of the assembled frame. The rivet can be dislodged from such position only by a direct blow upon the end or point thereof. In the forms in which I have chosen to illustrate my invention, therivet will be free to rotate, but there will be an absence of any liability to fall from the hole in which it has been placed by the rivet insertingdevices.

When subjected to the action of the riveting machine, the end or point of the rivet is spread in the manner indicated at C', in Figure .7, so as to unite the plates through which it is -passed', and form a complete head which is the counterpart of the head A. -The compression of the metal which takes place expands the shank of the rivet,

so that the hole in the plates is entirely- -tion is not to be limited to such assemblage,

but that it may be used in relations other than Athose described and further, that it may be used in certain classes of work in which the rivet inserting andgspreading operations are performed by hand. 4

The gist of the invention resides in the provisions described, whereby the rivet when initially positioned in the rivet holes in the plates is suiciently anchored or held in place and cannot be dislodged by the ordinary rough handling of the parts to be united'.- The manner of its application and the conditions attending its use are not involved in the present invention. The enlargement on the shank .of the rivet Whereby its anchorage' in position prior; tocthe riveting operation is effected, may be of forms other than those shown, and the eX- tent of such enlargement axially and the relative location with respect to the shank of the rivet may be varied at pleasure, but preserving always the essentials of my invention regardless of the'structural'y aspects on the rivet or means thereon, and by such expression I mean that the-anchoring provisions form a part of the rivet structure. I disclaim. the use of adjunctive holding devices for engaging the shank of a plain rivet not having self anchoring pro-f v a rivet designed to temporarily connect the parts to be riveted together, and which is provided structurally with means which will also serve to anchor or hold the rivet in .position preliminarily to the performance of the subsequentV permanent riveting operation.'

Having thus described I claim and desire' to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A rivet providedwith means for preliminarily anchoring or holding it in position pending the riveting operation, such rivet is to be inserted, whereby the rivet' is means comprising an enlargement on the shank spaced from the head.

2. In combination with perforated metal plates to be united, a rivet the shank of which is provided with an enlargement exceeding the diameter of the hole in the metal plates, whereby such rivet is preliminarily anchored or held in position pendingl the riveting operation.

3. rivet the end point of the shank of which is provided with a lplurality of cir/ cumferentially arranged radial projections, whereby the rivet is preliminarily anchored or held in position pending. the riveting operation.

4. In combination with a plurality of perforated metal plates to be united, a headed rivet, and means formed on the rivet for preliminarily anchoring or holding the rivet 1n osition'pending the riveting operation, suc means effecting/a temporary locking engagement of the rivet with the plate most remote from the head of the rivet.

,5. As a newzmanufacture, a rivet having an enlargement on its shank near the point,

rthe diameter through the shank and enlargelment exceeding that of the hole in which the temporarily anchored or held in 4position pending the Yriveting operation. 6. Perforated members to be united, i combination with a headed rivet to unite the said members, the vsaid rivetibeingiprovided on its shank with an enlargement, the diam- .eterof the shankv and its enlargement eX- ceeding that of the perforations in the members, whereby compression of the enlargement occurs in forcing the rivet into the perforations, and wherein by expansion of the enlargement the rivet is positively anchored or held in position pending the my invention, what spreading of the point of the rivet to unite thevsaid members.

7. A rivet having means formed thereon for preliminarily anchoring or holding the rivet in positiorr pending the riveting operation, such means being located at the end point of the rivet.

8. A rivet provided with ymeans for pre- 'liminarily anchoring or holding it in position pending the riveting operation, such means comprising an enlargement on they y shank of the rivet. Y

9. A` rivet the shank of which, adapted to entera rivet hole, is provided with means formed thereon for preliminarily anchoring `or holding the rivet pending the iinal riveting operation.

`10. A rivet adapted to temporarily hold parts in assembled r'clation for permanent connection by a subsequent riveting operation, the said rivet being provided with means formed as a part thereof for preliminarily anchoring or holding the rivet in position ending such operation. l

l1. rivet adapted to be entered in holes in parts to be united andtto temporarily hold the parts in assembled relation, the said rivet being provided with means formed thereon t0 anchor or hold-the rivet in position preliminarily to the performance of the riveting operation. Y

12. A headed rivet having a solid shank on which is formed an enlargement, the diameter of the shank and the enlargement exceeding the diameter of perforations in parts to b e united, the point of the rivet being adapted to be freely entered in the perforations and the rivet anchored or held lin position by such enlargement rivetin operation.

13. on Which is formed an enlargement, the diameter of the shank and the enlargement exceeding the diameter of perforations in parts to be united, the point of the rivet being adapted to be freely entered,in the perforations and the rivet anchored or held in position by such enlargement pending the final riveting operation.

rivet being adapted to be freely enteredin.

theV perforations and the rivet anchored or held in position by such enlargement pending the final riveting operation. y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Milwaukee, this 9th day of October,

- L R. STANLEY SMITH. Witnesses: -V

W. F. WoonA'nD, C. THEO. OSTERBERG.

pending the iinal pointed rivet having a solid shank 

